Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes - Page 2

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Independence I have long considered as the grand blessing of life, the basis of every virtue; and independence I will ever secure by contracting my wants, though I were to live on a barren heath.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Life, Single, Blessing

Mary Wollstonecraft (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Mary Wollstonecraft (Illustrated)”, p.608, Delphi Classics

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Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Women, Government, Share

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ch. 9 (1792)

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Friendship is a serious affection; the most sublime of all affections, because it is founded on principle, and cemented by time. The very reverse may be said of love. In a great degree, love and friendship cannot subsist in the same bosom; even when inspired by different objects they weaken or destroy each other, and for the same object can only be felt in succession. The vain fears and fond jealousies, the winds which fan the flame of love, when judiciously or artfully tempered, are both incompatible with the tender confidence and sincere respect of friendship.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Friendship, Flames, Wind

Mary Wollstonecraft (2012). “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, p.71, Courier Corporation

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Make women rational creatures, and free citizens, and they will quickly become good wives; - that is, if men do not neglect the duties of husbands and fathers.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Husband, Father, Women

Mary Wollstonecraft (1796). “A vindication of the rights of woman: with strictures on political and moral subjects”, p.412

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Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience; but, as blind obedience is ever sought for by power, tyrants and sensualists are in the right when they endeavor to keep women in the dark because, the former only want slaves, and the latter a play-thing.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Dark, Play, Tyrants

1792 A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, pt.1, ch.2.

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People thinking for themselves have more energy in their voice, than any government, which it is possible for human wisdom to invent; and every government not aware of this sacred truth will, at some period, be suddenly overturned.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Thinking, Government, Voice

Mary Wollstonecraft, Janet Todd (1999). “A Vindication of the Rights of Men; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution”, p.357, Oxford Paperbacks

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The two sexes mutually corrupt and improve each other.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Sex, Two

Mary Wollstonecraft (1796). “A vindication of the rights of woman: with strictures on political and moral subjects”, p.318

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Let us, my dear contemporaries, arise above such narrow prejudices. If wisdom be desirable on its own account, if virtue, to deserve the name, must be founded on knowledge, let us endeavour to strengthen our minds by reflection till our heads become a balance for our hearts.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Heart, Reflection, Names

Mary Wollstonecraft, Janet Todd (2008). “A Vindication of the Rights of Men; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution”, p.166, Oxford University Press

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Age demands respect; youth, love.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Age, Demand, Youth

Mary Wollstonecraft (1999). “A Vindication of the Rights of Men; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution”, p.56, OUP Oxford

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... we never do any thing well, unless we love it for its own sake.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Success, Excellence, Sake

Mary Wollstonecraft (2015). “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, p.145, Booklassic

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To be a good mother, a woman must have sense, and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are, in general, foolish mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their part, in secret, against the father, who is held up as a scarecrow.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Mother, Children, Husband

Mary Wollstonecraft (2015). “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, p.188, Booklassic

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The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it for a slavish submission to any power but reason.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Parent, Mind, Reason

Mary Wollstonecraft (2015). “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman”, p.190, Booklassic

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For years I have endeavored to calm an impetuous tide -- laboring to make my feelings take an orderly course -- it was striving against the stream.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Years, Feelings, Tides

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Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat priest to prayer. You mourn for the empty pageant of a name, when slavery flaps her wing, ... Why is our fancy to be appalled by terrific perspectives of a hell beyond the grave? - Hell stalks abroad; - the lash resounds on the slave's naked sides; and the sick wretch, who can no longer earn the sour bread of unremitting labour, steals to a ditch to bid the world a long good night.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Good Night, Prayer, Men

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True happiness must arise from well-regulated affections, and an affection includes a duty.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Happiness, Affection, Arise

Mary Wollstonecraft (2013). “Vindication of the Rights of Women”, p.156, Lulu.com

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[I]f we revert to history, we shall find that the women who have distinguished themselves have neither been the most beautiful nor the most gentle of their sex.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Beautiful, Sex, Gentle

Mary Wollstonecraft, Janet Todd (1999). “A Vindication of the Rights of Men; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution”, p.95, Oxford Paperbacks

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Judicious books enlarge the mind and improve the heart.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Book, Heart, Mind

Mary Wollstonecraft (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Mary Wollstonecraft (Illustrated)”, p.314, Delphi Classics

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It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are in some degree independent of men.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Women, Independent, Feminism

Mary Wollstonecraft (2013). “Vindication of the Rights of Women”, p.155, Lulu.com

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It appears to me impossible that I should cease to exist, or that this active, restless spirit, equally alive to joy and sorrow, should be only organized dust.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Dust, Joy, Sorrow

Mary Wollstonecraft (2005). “Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark”, p.76, Cosimo, Inc.

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Till women are more rationally educated, the progress in human virtue and improvement in knowledge must receive continual checks.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Justice, Diversity, Progress

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ch. 3 (1792)

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Every political good carried to the extreme must be productive of evil.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Evil, Political, Politics

Mary Wollstonecraft, Janet Todd (1999). “A Vindication of the Rights of Men; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman; An Historical and Moral View of the French Revolution”, p.363, Oxford Paperbacks

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The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be contested without danger.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Kings, Husband, Afterlife

'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman' (1792) ch. 3

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How frequently has melancholy and even misanthropy taken possession of me, when the world has disgusted me, and friends have proven unkind. I have then considered myself as a particle broken off from the grand mass of mankind.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Taken, Broken, World

Mary Wollstonecraft (2007). “Letters from Scandinavia”, p.13, Lulu.com

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Taught from their infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and, roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison. Men have various employments and pursuits which engage their attention, and give a character to the opening mind; but women, confined to one, and having their thoughts constantly directed to the most insignificant part of themselves, seldom extend their views beyond the triumph of the hour.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Women, Character, Views

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ch. 3 (1792)

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It appears to me impossible that I should cease to exist, or that this active, restless spirit, equally alive to joy and sorrow, should only be organised dust - ready to fly abroad the moment the spring snaps, or the spark goes out, which kept it together. Surely something resides in this heart that is not perishable - and life is more than a dream.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Dream, Spring, Heart

Mary Wollstonecraft (2007). “Letters from Scandinavia”, p.55, Lulu.com

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Born: April 27, 1759
Died: September 10, 1797
Occupation: Writer
Cite this Page: Citation

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